The Impacts of Violence on Education in South Sudan

Basic education is a fundamental economic necessity, but circumstances such as armed violence often make its effective provision quite grim. This is particularly pertinent in South Sudan where the delivery of social services has been greatly undermined by a recent violence. This policy brief analyzes the impacts of South Sudan's ongoing violence on education in the three states of Upper Nile. Our findings indicate that the war has led to pronounced reductions in educational activities and resources in the area, with school closure and mass outmigration as a result. We recommend to both the government and the humanitarian community to pay considerable attention to the educational priorities of the communities in question, paying teachers regularly, and supplying necessary inputs for continued learning in the area. Continued investments in education, even in the time of mass violence, reduce future social injustice and set stage for needed stability in the country.

Read the entire policy brief here

By Augustini Ting Mayai and Hollyn Hammond

Augustino Ting Mayai is the Director of Research at the Sudd Institute. His major research interests include childhood mortality differentials in the Sudan and South Sudan, applied quantitative methodology (econometrics), applied development research, social accountability and public service delivery, and the demography of conflicts and violence.

Hollyn Hammond is the South Sudan Education Cluster co-coordinator from Save the Children. She has been working in the education sector in South Sudan for two years with various agencies and is an educator by trade. She has a MA from George Washington University in International Development, specializing in education in complex emergencies.

Photo Credit: Arsenie Coseac via Flickr